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{{cite}}The '''Shadowlight''' was an ancient [[Xenos]] artifact created by an unknown race (presumably the [[Ancient]]s) long before the origins of [[Mankind]]. It was said to be as old as the [[Necrons]], so ancient that it was only known as a legend among the [[Eldar]]^{22a, 2b}.

In appearance the Shadowlight was a small, flat slab of dark stone that, nondescript though it was, gave off an unmistakeable erieness. It was apparently intended to be part of a larger machine, several parts of which were scattered along with it in "The Valley Of Daemons" on the planet [[Perlia]]^{22a, 2d}.

The exact purpose of the xenos machine was unknown, although one researcher theorized that it was able to alter the fabric of reality itself, created by the Ancients as a weapon of last resort in their war against the [[C'tan]]. The Shadowlight had a "side effect" that made it extremely dangerous: contact with the artifact could awaken the powers of latent [[Psykers]], and boost the powers of active Psykers, making them extremely powerful. However, not every psyker, latent or otherwise, survived contact with the artifact, and non-psykers who touched it without protection died almost instantly². Based on this, one Mechanicus [[Tech Priest]] theorized that it was designed as a combined antenna and storage battery, meant to draw on the energies of the [[Warp]] and use them to power the primary machine^33b.

The Shadowlight was discovered by agents had a "side effect" that made it extremely dangerous: contact with the artifact could awaken the powers of the latent [[Adeptus MechanicusPsykers]] , and boost the [[Ordo Xenos]]powers of active Psykers, who established a secret Mechanicus Shrine in the Valley to study its propertiesmaking them extremely powerful. One of the Tech-PriestsHowever, not every psyker, [[Metheius]]latent or otherwise, believed that survived contact with the Ordo Xenos were blind to the Shadowlight's real potentialartifact, and shared its existence with [[Inquisitor]] [[Ernst Stavros Killian|Killian]] of the [[Ordo Hereticus]]non-psykers who touched it without protection died almost instantly^2d. Killian believed that with the artifactBased on this, he could create an army of one Mechanicus [[psykersTech Priest]]theorized that it was designed as a combined antenna and storage battery, powerful enough meant to finally overthrow and destroy draw on the forces energies of the [[ChaosWarp]]and use them to power the primary machine^23b.

During The Shadowlight was discovered by agents of the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] and the [[Siege of PerliaOrdo Xenos]], under who established a secret Mechanicus Shrine in the cover Valley to study its properties^2a. One of the Tech-Priests, [[OrkMetheius]] invasion of the planet, Killian and Methius stormed the Shrine, killed believed that the researchers and stole Ordo Xenos were blind to the Shadowlight's real potential, and shared its existence with the unwitting help of a squad of over-zealous battle-sisters from the [[Adepta SororitasInquisitor]]². [[CommissarErnst Stavros Killian|Killian]] of the [[Ciaphas CainOrdo Hereticus]]. Killian believed that with the artifact, leading he could create an army of refugees across [[psykers]], powerful enough to finally overthrow and destroy the Valley, discovered their handiwork, though he did not know until later who was responsibleforces of [[Chaos]]^12c.

During the [[Siege of Perlia]], under the cover of the [[Ork]] invasion of the planet, Killian and Methius continued to study stormed the Shrine, killed the researchers and stole the Shadowlight in secret inside , with the unwitting help of a Sororitas convent on squad of over-zealous battle-sisters from the [[PeriremundaAdepta Sororitas]], recruiting members of a local ^2c. [[cultist|Chaos cultCommissar]] to serve as "test subjects." When Cain and Inquisitor [[Amberley VailCiaphas Cain]] confronted Killian, he attempted to escape with itleading an army of refugees across the Valley, only to inadvertently handle it without protectiondiscovered their handiwork, killing himthough he did not know until later who was responsible^21a.

The Shadowlight was returned Killian and Methius continued to Perlia and study the Shrine was rebuilt. Over the next few decadesShadowlight in secret inside a Sororitas convent on [[Periremunda]], several more components recruiting members of the machine were discovereda local [[cultist|Chaos cult]] to serve as "test subjects."^{2c, 2d} When Cain and Inquisitor [[Amberley Vail]] confronted Killian, he attempted to escape with it was partially reassembled, only to inadvertently handle it without protection, killing him^32e.

Somehow, the forces of [[Chaos]] learned of the The Shadowlight was returned to Perlia and saw the same potential that Killian had, though in reverseShrine was rebuilt. During Over the [[13th Black Crusade]]next few decades, in 999 M41, [[Abaddon several more components of the Despoiler]] dispatched a small expeditionary forcemachine were discovered, under the command of Warmaster [[Varan]], to retrieve and it. Cain stopped Varan, but the Shadowlight itself was captured by the Necronspartially reassembled^{33a, 3b}.

Somehow, the forces of [[Chaos]] learned of the Shadowlight and saw the same potential that Killian had, though in reverse. During the [[13th Black Crusade]], in 999 M41, [[Abaddon the Despoiler]] dispatched a small expeditionary force, under the command of Warmaster [[Varan]], to retrieve it^3a. Cain stopped Varan, but the Shadowlight itself was captured by the Necrons^3c. In a private discussion with Vail, Cain softened the loss by reasoning that the Necrons must have feared the Shadowlight, since it was created by their enemies; and for that reason, they likely had no immediate plans to use it against the Imperium. Thus, losing it to them was preferable to losing it to Chaos^33d.

*¹: [[Death or Glory (Novel)]] – [[Ciaphas Cain: Defender of the Imperium (Omnibus)]] by [[Sandy Mitchell]]:**a: Chapter Twenty-One, pp. 205-213*²: [[Duty Calls (Novel)]] – '''Ciaphas Cain: Defender of the Imperium (Omnibus)''' by [['''Sandy Mitchell]]''':**a: Chapter Eleven, pp. 343-345**b: Chapter Twelve, pp. 353-354**c: Chapter Twenty-Four, pp. 460-463**d: Chapter Twenty-Five, pp. 467-469**e: Chapter Twenty-Six, pp. 472-478 *³: [[Cain's Last Stand (Novel)]] – '''Ciaphas Cain: Defender of the Imperium (Omnibus)''' by [['''Sandy Mitchell]]''':**a: Chapter Six, pp. 577-581**b: Chapter Fourteen, pp. 646-657**c: Chapter Twenty-Four, pp. 760-761**d: Chapter Twenty-Five, pp. 763-764